Mark Hughes said Stoke City's 1-0 defeat against Burnley was "hard to take" and highlighted Kurt Zouma's injury as a key factor.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford: Late Comeback Lifts Eagles Out of the Relegation Zone

​Crystal Palace climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season with a fantastic late comeback to beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park this evening (December 12). Scott Dann captained the side in place of the injured Mamadou Sakho, whilst Julian Speroni made his 400th appearance for the club. ​Marco Silva changed his system to a 3-4-3, bringing in Sebastian Prodl and Jose Holebas for Roberto Pereyra and Marvin Zeegelaar - who was sent off against ​Burnley for a two footed lunge...

Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford: Late Comeback Lifts Eagles Out of the Relegation Zone

​Crystal Palace climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season with a fantastic late comeback to beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park this evening (December 12). Scott Dann captained the side in place of the injured Mamadou Sakho, whilst Julian Speroni made his 400th appearance for the club. ​Marco Silva changed his system to a 3-4-3, bringing in Sebastian Prodl and Jose Holebas for Roberto Pereyra and Marvin Zeegelaar - who was sent off against ​Burnley for a two footed lunge...

Crystal Palace 2-1 Watford: Late Comeback Lifts Eagles Out of the Relegation Zone

​Crystal Palace climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season with a fantastic late comeback to beat Watford 2-1 at Selhurst Park this evening (December 12). Scott Dann captained the side in place of the injured Mamadou Sakho, whilst Julian Speroni made his 400th appearance for the club. ​Marco Silva changed his system to a 3-4-3, bringing in Sebastian Prodl and Jose Holebas for Roberto Pereyra and Marvin Zeegelaar - who was sent off against ​Burnley for a two footed lunge...

Ashley Barnes’ late goal against Stoke sends Burnley soaring into top four

Ashley Barnes’ late goal against Stoke sends Burnley soaring into top four

Ashley Barnes, right, fires home Burnley’s late winner against Stoke City to sent the Clarets into the top four.

Ashley Barnes’ late goal against Stoke sends Burnley soaring into top four

Burnley moved into the Champions League qualifying spots thanks to Ashley Barnes' searing finish in an otherwise dour match with Stoke at Turf Moor. The substitute capitalised after the ball broke to him in the area late on, slamming home to condemn the Potters to a second consecutive away defeat. Stoke's Peter Crouch nearly opened the scoring early in the first half after a Burnley defensive mishap, the veteran striker seeing his back stick effort saved onto the post by Nick Pope. The Clarets...

Burnley moved into the Champions League qualifying spots thanks to Ashley Barnes' searing finish in an otherwise dour match with Stoke at Turf Moor. The substitute capitalised after the ball broke to him in the area late on, slamming home to condemn the Potters to a second consecutive away defeat. Stoke's Peter Crouch nearly opened the scoring early in the first half after a Burnley defensive mishap, the veteran striker seeing his back stick effort saved onto the post by Nick Pope. The Clarets...

Burnley moved into the Champions League qualifying spots thanks to Ashley Barnes' searing finish in an otherwise dour match with Stoke at Turf Moor. The substitute capitalised after the ball broke to him in the area late on, slamming home to condemn the Potters to a second consecutive away defeat. Stoke's Peter Crouch nearly opened the scoring early in the first half after a Burnley defensive mishap, the veteran striker seeing his back stick effort saved onto the post by Nick Pope. The Clarets...

Burnley moved into the Champions League qualifying spots thanks to Ashley Barnes' searing finish in an otherwise dour match with Stoke at Turf Moor. The substitute capitalised after the ball broke to him in the area late on, slamming home to condemn the Potters to a second consecutive away defeat. Stoke's Peter Crouch nearly opened the scoring early in the first half after a Burnley defensive mishap, the veteran striker seeing his back stick effort saved onto the post by Nick Pope. The Clarets...

Burnley 1 Stoke City 0: Ashley Barnes scores late winner to send Sean Dyche's side into Champions League spot

Once you cut through the ballyhoo it is becoming increasingly difficult to look beyond Sean Dyche when considerations are made as to the best pound-for-pound manager in the Premier League. Burnley are now keeping exalted company indeed. This 1-0 victory over struggling Stoke, their sixth in their last eight outings propelled them into fourth in the Premier League, occupying the final Champions League place. Little old Burnley that is. A local enterprise that Dyche has taken from the Championship to compete in an ocean of multinationals. There has been none of the flagrant spending of others, their 89th minute winning goal here, was scored by Ashley Barnes, acquired for £500,000, three years ago and only Kevin Long, purchased for a nominal fee from Cork City seven years ago pre-dates Dyche. Nor as some have done, did he inherit a team sprinkled with world class performers. Instead he has had to contend with the sale of his most productive players - Danny Ings, Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane et al were all prised away by suitors with larger pockets. Stoke’s positive start belied their lowly league position. Xherdan Shaqiri was particularly prominent as the visitor’s set about their work - dispatching a rasping drive in the opening moments that was well handled by the Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope. The awkwardness of Peter Crouch’s gangly frame also proved troublesome for the hosts early on. Approaching his 37th year the former England striker remains a useful conduit on occasions such as this. Twice he almost profited from swirling crosses that were trapped in the arctic blast blowing across Turf Moor, flicking the first of his chances against Pope and off the woodwork. Burnley 1 - 0 Stoke (Ashley Barnes, 89 min) Shaqiri then presented a golden opportunity to Kurt Zouma with a precise delivery from a corner. The defender’s volley lacked the power to trouble Pope. It was a wasted opening. As Stoke stepped-up their efforts, Crouch cushioned the ball to Shaqiri who took every opportunity to drift inside from his station on the wing. The Swiss international’s sweet reverse pass was a joy to behold sending Mame Biram Diouf dashing clear. The forward was well marshalled though by the Burnley defender James Tarkowski and his effort on goal found the side netting under pressure. As in last weekend’s victory over Watford, Burnley were guilty of being sluggish out of the traps. Steven Defour apart there was little of the invention or neat football that has underpinned their evolution this term. Not that the numbing conditions aided either set of players. Burnley’s only spark in a subdued first period arrived in the 39th minute after the visitors were able to only partially clear from a corner. Tarkowski transferred the ball to Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the right. Cutting inside the Icelandic winger looked-up and elected to curl the ball towards the far corner, narrowly missing the target. The half-time interval did little to induce a creative flow to the game. At times it was proving challenging enough for players to regain mastery of the football never mind discover a passing motion to penetrate either defence. Berg Gudmudsson swiped at the ball when well placed sending it careering behind the goal in a moment that summed-up the evening. Having failed with the low route the introduction of Ashley Barnes added some physicality to their offensive thrusts. At times it has been Dyche’s default position and the forward flashed a drive wide as the hosts pressed forward searching for the goal to carry them into the Champions League places. The withdrawal of Shaqiri was greeted with disdain by the Stoke City supporters who conveyed their anger by chanting, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ in the direction of their embattled manager, Mark Hughes. When Barnes blasted beyond Butland late on they were handed further ammunition.

Burnley 1 Stoke City 0: Ashley Barnes scores late winner to send Sean Dyche's side into Champions League spot

Once you cut through the ballyhoo it is becoming increasingly difficult to look beyond Sean Dyche when considerations are made as to the best pound-for-pound manager in the Premier League. Burnley are now keeping exalted company indeed. This 1-0 victory over struggling Stoke, their sixth in their last eight outings propelled them into fourth in the Premier League, occupying the final Champions League place. Little old Burnley that is. A local enterprise that Dyche has taken from the Championship to compete in an ocean of multinationals. There has been none of the flagrant spending of others, their 89th minute winning goal here, was scored by Ashley Barnes, acquired for £500,000, three years ago and only Kevin Long, purchased for a nominal fee from Cork City seven years ago pre-dates Dyche. Nor as some have done, did he inherit a team sprinkled with world class performers. Instead he has had to contend with the sale of his most productive players - Danny Ings, Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane et al were all prised away by suitors with larger pockets. Stoke’s positive start belied their lowly league position. Xherdan Shaqiri was particularly prominent as the visitor’s set about their work - dispatching a rasping drive in the opening moments that was well handled by the Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope. The awkwardness of Peter Crouch’s gangly frame also proved troublesome for the hosts early on. Approaching his 37th year the former England striker remains a useful conduit on occasions such as this. Twice he almost profited from swirling crosses that were trapped in the arctic blast blowing across Turf Moor, flicking the first of his chances against Pope and off the woodwork. Burnley 1 - 0 Stoke (Ashley Barnes, 89 min) Shaqiri then presented a golden opportunity to Kurt Zouma with a precise delivery from a corner. The defender’s volley lacked the power to trouble Pope. It was a wasted opening. As Stoke stepped-up their efforts, Crouch cushioned the ball to Shaqiri who took every opportunity to drift inside from his station on the wing. The Swiss international’s sweet reverse pass was a joy to behold sending Mame Biram Diouf dashing clear. The forward was well marshalled though by the Burnley defender James Tarkowski and his effort on goal found the side netting under pressure. As in last weekend’s victory over Watford, Burnley were guilty of being sluggish out of the traps. Steven Defour apart there was little of the invention or neat football that has underpinned their evolution this term. Not that the numbing conditions aided either set of players. Burnley’s only spark in a subdued first period arrived in the 39th minute after the visitors were able to only partially clear from a corner. Tarkowski transferred the ball to Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the right. Cutting inside the Icelandic winger looked-up and elected to curl the ball towards the far corner, narrowly missing the target. Mark Hughes, the Stoke City manager, was abused by some sections of the travelling support Credit: Getty Images The half-time interval did little to induce a creative flow to the game. At times it was proving challenging enough for players to regain mastery of the football never mind discover a passing motion to penetrate either defence. Berg Gudmudsson swiped at the ball when well placed sending it careering behind the goal in a moment that summed-up the evening. Having failed with the low route the introduction of Ashley Barnes added some physicality to their offensive thrusts. At times it has been Dyche’s default position and the forward flashed a drive wide as the hosts pressed forward searching for the goal to carry them into the Champions League places. The withdrawal of Shaqiri was greeted with disdain by the Stoke City supporters who conveyed their anger by chanting, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ in the direction of their embattled manager, Mark Hughes. When Barnes blasted beyond Butland late on they were handed further ammunition.